Mobile terminal testing device, mobile terminal testing system, and testing method of NSA

ABSTRACT

There is provided mobile terminal testing device and system capable of reducing a processing load, when testing mobile terminals that support NSA. Included are a first mobile terminal testing device operating as a base station of LTE and a second mobile terminal testing device operating as a base station of 5G NR of NSA, when testing a mobile terminal which supports NSA, the second mobile terminal testing device generates a control signal of 5G NR, transmits the generated control signal of 5G NR to the first mobile terminal testing device, and the first mobile terminal testing device 1 transmits the received control signal of 5G NR to the mobile terminal according to the LTE.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a mobile terminal testing device whichtests a mobile terminal.

BACKGROUND ART

In a case of developing the mobile terminal performing communicationwhile moving a mobile phone or a data communication terminal, it isnecessary to test whether or not the developed mobile terminal cannormally perform communication. Therefore, a testing device whichoperates as a pseudo base station simulating a function of an actualbase station is connected to a mobile terminal to be tested,communication is performed between the testing device and the mobileterminal, and a test of checking the contents of the communication isperformed.

In the mobile communication system, the standard specification of 5G NR(New Radio), which is a 5th Generation (5G) radio system, has beencompleted.

In 5G NR, 5G lines are specialized for User plane (U-Plane): User datasignal. For Control Plane (C-Plane): communication control signal, thespecifications of Non-Standalone (NSA) that transmits and receivessignals using a Long Term Evolution (LTE) line, and Stand Alone (SA)that operates independently by 5G NR without linking with LTE aredefined.

Patent Document 1 describes handover in NSA and SA communicationsystems.

RELATED ART DOCUMENT Patent Document

[Patent Document 1] International Publication WO2017/062244

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problem that the Invention is to Solve

When testing a mobile terminal that supports NSA, it is possible toperform testing using a mobile terminal testing device that supports LTEtesting and a mobile terminal testing device that supports 5G NRtesting.

However, in such a configuration, each device generates a control signalcorresponding to each communication method. Therefore, according to theNSA specification, a control signal of 5G NR is to be transmitted to anLTE mobile terminal testing device, so there is a problem in the method.

That is, when a control signal of 5G NR is generated by the LTE mobileterminal testing device, the LTE mobile terminal testing device is togenerate a control signal based on the setting information of 5G NR, soprocessing load increases.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a mobileterminal testing device capable of reducing a processing load whentesting a mobile terminal that supports NSA.

Means for Solving the Problem

A mobile terminal testing device of a first aspect of the presentinvention is a second mobile terminal testing device, out of two mobileterminal testing devices constituting a mobile terminal testing systemwhich tests a mobile terminal and simulating base stations of mobilecommunication to test the mobile terminal, when a control signal of acommunication standard not supported by the second mobile terminaltesting device is transmitted to the mobile terminal by a first mobileterminal test device which constitutes the mobile terminal testingsystem and is different from the second mobile terminal test device, thesecond mobile terminal testing device generates the control signal andtransmits the generated control signal to the first mobile terminaltesting device.

With this configuration, when transmitting a control signal to themobile terminal according to the communication standard (firstcommunication standard) that a base station simulated by the secondmobile terminal testing device does not support transmission, thecontrol signal is generated by the second mobile terminal testingdevice, and the control signal is transmitted to the first mobileterminal testing device which simulates a base station that supportstransmission in the first communication standard. Therefore, theprocessing load of the first mobile terminal testing device can bereduced.

A mobile terminal testing device of a second aspect of the presentinvention is a second mobile terminal testing device, out of two mobileterminal testing devices constituting a mobile terminal testing systemwhich tests a mobile terminal and simulating base stations of mobilecommunication to test the mobile terminal, when a control signal of acommunication standard not supported by the first mobile terminaltesting device is received from a second mobile terminal test devicewhich constitutes the mobile terminal testing system and is differentfrom the first mobile terminal test device, the first mobile terminaltesting device transmits the control signal to the mobile terminalaccording to a communication standard supported by the first mobileterminal testing device.

With this configuration, when receiving, from the second mobile terminaltesting device which is another mobile terminal testing device, acontrol signal which is a control signal of a communication standard(first communication standard) that a base station simulated by thesecond mobile terminal testing device does not support transmission andof the first communication standard supported by a base stationsimulated by the first mobile terminal testing device, the controlsignal is transmitted according to a first communication standardsupported by a base station simulated by the first mobile terminaltesting device. Therefore, the processing load can be reduced.

In the mobile terminal testing device of a third aspect of the presentinvention according to the mobile terminal testing device of the firstaspect, the communication standard supported by the second testingdevice may be a successor standard to the communication standardsupported by the first mobile terminal testing device.

In the mobile terminal testing device of a fourth aspect of the presentinvention according to the mobile terminal testing device of the secondaspect, the communication standard supported by the second testingdevice may be a successor standard to the communication standardsupported by the first mobile terminal testing device.

In the mobile terminal testing device of a fifth aspect of the presentinvention according to the mobile terminal testing device of the firstaspect, the communication standard supported by the second testingdevice may be 5G NR, and the communication standard supported by thefirst mobile terminal testing device may be LTE.

In the mobile terminal testing device of a sixth aspect of the presentinvention according to the mobile terminal testing device of the secondaspect, the communication standard supported by the second testingdevice may be 5G NR, and the communication standard supported by thefirst mobile terminal testing device may be LTE.

A mobile terminal testing system of a seventh aspect of the presentinvention is a mobile terminal testing system including a first mobileterminal testing device and a second mobile terminal testing device,wherein the first mobile terminal testing device simulates base stationsof mobile communication to test the mobile terminal, when a controlsignal of a communication standard not supported by the first mobileterminal testing device is received from the second mobile terminal testdevice which constitutes the mobile terminal testing system and isdifferent from the first mobile terminal test device, the first mobileterminal testing device transmits the control signal to the mobileterminal according to a communication standard supported by the firstmobile terminal testing device, the second mobile terminal testingdevice simulates base stations of mobile communication to test themobile terminal, when a control signal of a communication standard notsupported by the second mobile terminal testing device is transmitted tothe mobile terminal by the first mobile terminal test device whichconstitutes the mobile terminal testing system and is different from thesecond mobile terminal test device, the second mobile terminal testingdevice generates the control signal and transmits the generated controlsignal to the first mobile terminal testing device, and the first mobileterminal testing device and the second mobile terminal testing deviceare configured to communicate with each other.

With this configuration, the first mobile terminal testing device andthe second mobile terminal testing device are configured to be able tocommunicate with each other. Therefore, the processing load of the firstmobile terminal testing device can be reduced.

In the mobile terminal testing system of an eighth aspect of the presentinvention according to the mobile terminal testing system of the seventhaspect, the second communication standard supported by the secondtesting device may be a successor standard to the first communicationstandard supported by the first mobile terminal testing device.

With this configuration, the first mobile terminal testing device thatoperates according to the first communication standard and the secondmobile terminal testing device that operates according to the secondcommunication standard that is the successor standard of the firstcommunication standard are configured to be able to communicate witheach other. Therefore, the processing load of the first mobile terminaltesting device can be reduced.

In the mobile terminal testing system of a ninth aspect of the presentinvention according to the mobile terminal testing system of the seventhaspect, the communication standard supported by the second testingdevice may be 5G NR, and the communication standard supported by thefirst mobile terminal testing device may be LTE.

With this configuration, the first mobile terminal testing device thatoperates as a base station of LTE and the second mobile terminal testingdevice that operates as a base station of 5G NR are configured to beable to communicate with each other. Therefore, the processing load ofthe mobile terminal testing device that operates as a base station ofLTE can be reduced.

A testing method for NSA of a tenth aspect of the present invention is atesting method for NSA using the mobile terminal testing systemaccording to the eighth aspect, the method including when transmitting acontrol signal of the second communication standard to the mobileterminal, a step of generating the control signal of the secondcommunication standard, by the second mobile terminal testing deviceoperating as a base station of the second communication standard; a stepof transmitting the generated control signal of the second communicationstandard to the first mobile terminal testing device operating as a basestation of the first communication standard, by the second mobileterminal testing device; and a step of transmitting the received controlsignal of the second communication standard to the mobile terminalaccording to the first communication standard, by the first mobileterminal testing device.

With this configuration, when transmitting the control signal of thesecond communication standard to the mobile terminal, a control signalof the second communication standard is generated by the second mobileterminal testing device operating as a base station of the secondcommunication standard, the generated control signal of the secondcommunication standard is transmitted to the first mobile terminaltesting device operating as a base station of the first communicationstandard, by the second mobile terminal testing device operating as abase station of the second communication standard, and the receivedcontrol signal of the second communication standard is transmitted tothe mobile terminal according to the first communication standardaccording to the LTE, by the first mobile terminal testing device thatoperates as a base station of the first communication standard.Therefore, the processing load of the first mobile terminal testingdevice that operates as a base station of the first communicationstandard can be reduced.

A testing method for NSA of an eleventh aspect of the present inventionis a testing method for NSA using the mobile terminal testing systemaccording to the ninth aspect, the method including when transmitting acontrol signal of the 5G NR to the mobile terminal, a step of generatingthe control signal of 5G NR, by the second mobile terminal testingdevice operating as a base station of the 5G NR; a step of transmittingthe generated control signal of 5G NR to the first mobile terminaltesting device operating as a base station of the LTE, by the secondmobile terminal testing device; and a step of transmitting the receivedcontrol signal of 5G NR to the mobile terminal according to the LTE, bythe first mobile terminal testing device.

With this configuration, when transmitting the control signal of 5G NRto the mobile terminal, the control signal of 5G NR is generated by thesecond mobile terminal testing device operating as a base station of 5GNR, the generated control signal of 5G NR is transmitted to the firstmobile terminal testing device operating as a base station of the LTE,by the second mobile terminal testing device operating as a base stationof 5G NR, and the received control signal of 5G NR is transmitted to themobile terminal according to the LTE, by the first mobile terminaltesting device that operates as a base station of LTE. Therefore, theprocessing load of the first mobile terminal testing device thatoperates as a base station of LTE can be reduced.

Advantage of the Invention

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a mobileterminal testing device capable of reducing a processing load, whentesting a mobile terminal that supports NSA.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a mobile terminal testing system accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram illustrating the procedure of 5G NRsignaling message transmission processing of the mobile terminal testingsystem according to the embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, a mobile terminal testing system according to an embodimentof the present invention will be described in detail with reference tothe drawings.

In FIG. 1, a mobile terminal testing system 100 according to anembodiment of the present invention includes a first mobile terminaltesting device 1, and a second mobile terminal testing device 2.

The first mobile terminal testing device 1 and the second mobileterminal testing device 2 are communication testing devices of differentstandards. For example, the first mobile terminal testing device 1 isconfigured exclusively for the LTE standard, and the second mobileterminal testing device 2 is configured exclusively for the 5G NRstandard.

The mobile terminal testing system 100 according to the presentembodiment tests a mobile terminal 3 configured to perform communicationof a plurality of standards such as 5G NR and LTE.

In the present embodiment, the first mobile terminal testing device 1and the second mobile terminal testing device 2 transmit and receivesignals to and from the mobile terminal 3 wirelessly through theantennas 14, 24.

The first mobile terminal testing device 1 is a computer unit includinga central processing unit (CPU), a random access memory (RAM), a readonly memory (ROM), a flash memory, a hard disk device, an input port,and an output port.

In this computer unit, the CPU executes an operating system (OS) storedin the hard disk device, so the CPU can control devices connected to theinput port and the output port.

The first mobile terminal testing device 1 includes a display unit 11,an operation unit 12, a pseudo base station unit 13, an antenna 14, anda control unit 15.

The display unit 11 is an image display device such as a liquid crystaldisplay, and displays an image for inputting necessary information andan image showing a state under test.

The operation unit 12 is input devices such as a keyboard, a mouse, anda touch panel, and outputs operation-input information to the controlunit 15.

The pseudo base station unit 13 transmits and receives wireless signalsto and from the mobile terminal 3 through the antenna 14, under thecontrol of the control unit 15. The pseudo base station unit 13 controlsthe communication with the mobile terminal 3, based on the command inputfrom the control unit 15. The pseudo base station unit 13 outputs thestate of communication with the mobile terminal 3 to the control unit15.

The pseudo base station unit 13 can perform LTE communication with themobile terminal 3 according to the LTE standard.

The control unit 15 is configured by a program stored in the hard diskdevice of the first mobile terminal testing device 1. The control unit15 operates on the OS of the first mobile terminal testing device 1, andcontrols the display unit 11, the operation unit 12, and the pseudo basestation unit 13 through the OS to make the computer unit operate as thefirst mobile terminal testing device 1.

The control unit 15 controls the operation as a pseudo base station byoutputting a command to the pseudo base station unit 13, based on theinformation input to the operation unit 12. The control unit 15 displaysan input guide to the operation unit 12, the contents of parameters setin the pseudo base station unit 13, and a state of communication withthe mobile terminal 3 output from the pseudo base station unit 13, onthe display unit 11.

The first mobile terminal testing device 1 is a computer unit includinga CPU, a RAM, a ROM, a flash memory, a hard disk device, an input port,and an output port.

In this computer unit, the CPU executes an operating system (OS) storedin the hard disk device, so the CPU can control devices connected to theinput port and the output port.

The second mobile terminal testing device 2 includes a display unit 21,an operation unit 22, a pseudo base station unit 23, an antenna 24, anda control unit 25.

The display unit 21 is an image display device such as a liquid crystaldisplay, and displays an image for inputting necessary information andan image showing a state under test.

The operation unit 22 is input devices such as a keyboard, a mouse, anda touch panel, and outputs operation-input information to the controlunit 25.

The pseudo base station unit 23 transmits and receives wireless signalsto and from the mobile terminal 3 through the antenna 24, under thecontrol of the control unit 25. The pseudo base station unit 23 controlsthe communication with the mobile terminal 3, based on the command inputfrom the control unit 25. The pseudo base station unit 23 outputs thestate of communication with the mobile terminal 3 to the control unit25.

The pseudo base station unit 23 can perform 5G NR communication with themobile terminal 3 according to the 5G NR standard.

The control unit 25 is configured by a program stored in the hard diskdevice of the second mobile terminal testing device 2. The control unit25 operates on the OS of the second mobile terminal testing device 2,and controls the display unit 21, the operation unit 22, and the pseudobase station unit 23 through the OS to make the computer unit operate asthe second mobile terminal testing device 2.

Based on the information input to the operation unit 22, the controlunit 25 outputs a command to the pseudo base station unit 23 andcontrols the operation as a pseudo base station. The control unit 25displays an input guide to the operation unit 22, the contents ofparameters set in the pseudo base station unit 23, and a state ofcommunication with the mobile terminal 3 output from the pseudo basestation unit 23, on the display unit 21.

The control unit 15 of the first mobile terminal testing device 1 andthe control unit 25 of the second mobile terminal testing device 2 areconnected with a cable and can communicate with each other.

In the mobile terminal testing system 100 having such a configuration,when testing the mobile terminal 3 that supports NSA, the first mobileterminal testing device 1 is made to create a test scenario in whichparameters and signal sequences according to test items as an LTE pseudobase station are set.

In addition, the second mobile terminal testing device 2 is made tocreate a test scenario in which parameters and signal sequencesaccording to the test items as a 5G NR pseudo base station are set. Atthis time, a control signal of 5G NR (hereinafter also referred to as asignaling message) transmitted on the LTE C-Plane is also set in thetest scenario of the second mobile terminal testing device 2.

The test scenarios thus created are executed by the first mobileterminal testing device 1 and the second mobile terminal testing device2.

When it is time for the second mobile terminal testing device 2 totransmit a control signal of 5G NR during execution of the testscenario, the control unit 25 of the second mobile terminal testingdevice 2 generates a signaling message based on the information set inthe test scenario.

The control unit 25 notifies the control unit 15 of the first mobileterminal testing device 1 of the generated signaling message.

When the control unit 15 of the first mobile terminal testing device 1receives the 5G NR signaling message from the control unit 25 of thesecond mobile terminal testing device 2, the control unit 15 transmitsthe received signaling message to the mobile terminal 3 on the LTEC-Plane according to the LTE standard.

In this way, in testing of the mobile terminal 3 that supports the NSA,when a 5G NR signaling message is to be transmitted, the second mobileterminal testing device 2 that supports the 5G NR standard creates asignaling message and notifies the first mobile terminal testing device1 that supports the LTE standard of the signaling message, and the firstmobile terminal testing device 1 transmits (transfers) the receivedsignaling message as it is.

Therefore, it is not necessary for the first mobile terminal testingdevice 1 to generate a 5G NR signaling message, and the processing loadcan be reduced.

In addition, since the first mobile terminal testing device 1 onlytransmits the received 5G NR signaling message to the mobile terminal 3as it is, even when there is a change in the 5G NR standard, it is notnecessary for the first mobile terminal testing device 1 to make achange.

A 5G NR signaling message transmission process by the mobile terminaltesting system 100 according to the present embodiment configured asdescribed above will be described with reference to FIG. 2.

When it is time to transmit a control signal of 5G NR, the control unit25 of the second mobile terminal testing device 2 generates a signalingmessage based on the information set in the test scenario, in step S1.

In step S2, the control unit 25 notifies the control unit 15 of thefirst mobile terminal testing device 1 of the generated signalingmessage.

In step S3, the control unit 15 of the first mobile terminal testingdevice 1 transmits the received signaling message to the mobile terminal3 using the LTE C-Plane.

In the present embodiment, the case where the first mobile terminaltesting device 1 and the second mobile terminal testing device 2 eachoperate only with the device main body has been described. However,control may be performed from a personal computer device.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed, itwill be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may bemade without departing from the scope of the invention. All suchmodifications and equivalents are intended to be included in thefollowing claims.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS AND SIGNS

1 first mobile terminal testing device

2 second mobile terminal testing device

3 mobile terminal

15 control unit

25 control unit

100 mobile terminal testing system

What is claimed is:
 1. A mobile testing system for testing a mobileterminal supporting non-standalone (NSA) according to a test scenario,comprising: a second mobile terminal testing device simulating a secondbase station operating in a succeeding communication standard thatsucceeds a preceding communication standard, the second mobile terminaltesting device comprising: a second pseudo base station unit configuredto simulate the second base station operating in the succeedingcommunication standard that succeeds the preceding communicationstandard, in communication with a first mobile terminal testing devicesimulating a first base station operating in the preceding communicationstandard through a cable, a second display configured to displaycontents of parameters set in the second pseudo base station unit, and astate of a direct communication between the second mobile terminaltesting device and the mobile terminal under test, the state outputtedfrom the second pseudo base station unit, and a second controllerconfigured to: create the test scenario in which parameters and signalsequences are set, at a timing to transmit a control signaling messageof the succeeding communication standard according to the test scenario,generate the control signaling message generated with the parameters andsequences according to the test scenario for the succeedingcommunication standard, and transmit the generated control signalingmessage to the first mobile terminal testing device; and the firstmobile terminal testing device simulating the first base stationoperating in the preceding communication standard, the first mobileterminal testing device comprising: a first pseudo base station unitconfigured to simulate the first base station operating in the precedingcommunication standard, in communication with the second mobile terminaltesting device simulating the second base station operating in thesucceeding communication standard through the cable, a first controllerconfigured to: receive, from the second mobile terminal testing device,the control signaling message generated with parameters and sequencesfor the succeeding communication standard; and transmit the controlsignaling message generated by the second controller with parameters andsequences according to the test scenario for the succeedingcommunication standard to the mobile terminal on a plane of thepreceding communication standard, the plane being established directlybetween the first mobile terminal testing device and the mobileterminal.
 2. The mobile testing system according to claim 1, wherein thesucceeding communication standard supported by the second mobileterminal testing device is a successor standard to the precedingcommunication standard supported by the first mobile terminal testingdevice.
 3. The mobile testing system according to claim 1, wherein thesucceeding communication standard supported by the second mobileterminal testing device is 5G New Radio (NR), and the precedingcommunication standard supported by the first mobile terminal testingdevice is Long Term Evolution (LTE).